Dhaka: Sheikh Rehana, her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and daughter Azmina Siddiq obtained plots in Purbachal New Town without submitting any application, leveraging the influence of British MP Tulip Siddiq, who is also a niece of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the trio secured the plots from the Rajdhani Unnayan Katripokkha (Rajuk) by utilizing Tulip Siddiq’s influence over her maternal aunt, the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina. This information was revealed from three charge sheets filed against them. The Investigation Officer of the cases, Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission Afnan Jannat Keya, brought charges against 53 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq. Following the submission of the charge sheets, the IO applied to the court for issuing arrest warrants and attaching their assets and properties. The court has scheduled April 13 for the acceptance of the charge sheets and hearing of the petitions.
The charge sheet against Sheikh Rehana indicated that she did not apply for the plot allotment using Rajuk’s prescribed form, and thus it was not scrutinized by the authority. Her name was absent from the registrar book of Rajuk as no application was submitted. When Tulip Siddiq learned that her aunt, the then prime minister, had allotted a 10-katha plot for herself, her daughter Sayma Wajed, and her son Sajib Wazed Joy, she influenced Sheikh Hasina to allot similar plots for her family members, the IO stated.
The former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is accused of allotting these plots with an ulterior motive, misusing her power, and violating sections 4 and 5 of the Rajuk rules. Similar violations were noted in the allocation of plots to Azmina Siddiq and Radwan Mujib Siddiq.
ACC Deputy Director Salauddin filed a case against 15 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her niece Tulip Siddiq, on January 13. ACC AD Afnan Jannat Keya submitted a charge sheet on March 10, accusing 17 people in the case. Similar allegations were also raised against Azmina Siddiq, Tulip Siddiq, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby.
ACC Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir informed BSS that the ACC has already submitted separate charge sheets against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and their family members for allotting 60 kathas of land in the diplomatic enclave of the Purbachal New Town project through corruption. The accused, particularly the family members of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, have been absconding, leading the court to issue arrest warrants as per the law. The court will commence trial against them after publishing a gazette against the absconders.